Medal of Honor recipient will be coming to an event in Idaho this weekend. Here’s why
Only about 60 Medal of Honor recipients are still living in the U.S.
One of them will be in Idaho this weekend for a first-of-its-kind celebration of veterans and first responders.
Retired Marine Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, 84, who received the Medal of Honor for heroic actions in the Vietnam War more than 50 years ago, will be part of the inaugural Veterans and First Responders Celebration, starting at 2 p.m. Saturday at Merrill Park in Eagle in conjunction with Eagle Fun Days.
The celebration, organized by American Legion Orville Jackson Post 127 in Eagle, also aims to fill a gap in recognizing the contributions of firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel.
“We’re a veterans organization, but we are also very community-based,” Ralph Perez, Post 127 commander, told me in a phone interview. “We thought, what’s really missing in our country is (recognition for) first responders. As veterans, we have Memorial Day, we have Veterans Day, a lot of what happens on Fourth of July is about veterans, but there is no first responders day.”
The event will feature awards for outstanding service members in various categories. A firefighter of the year, police officer of the year, EMS personnel of the year, and a service dog and handler of the year will be recognized alongside a veteran, all receiving Community Service Awards.
While the celebration is rooted in honoring local heroes, it has taken on an additional layer of significance with the participation of Livingston, a true American hero.
‘Gallant actions’
On May 2, 1968, then-Capt. Livingston was commanding officer of a U.S. Marine company in Dai Do, a heavily fortified village, in which a Marine company was isolated from the remainder of the battalion.
Livingston led his company on an assault of Dai Do and was hit with grenade shrapnel twice, but refused medical treatment so he could continue to lead his men in the destruction of more than 100 mutually supporting bunkers, driving the remaining enemy from their positions and relieving the pressure on the stranded Marine company, according to his citation.
Livingston was wounded a third time during an enemy counterattack, leaving him unable to walk, but he remained in the dangerously exposed area, deploying his men to more tenable positions and supervising the evacuation of casualties, according to his citation.
Only when assured of the safety of his men did he allow himself to be evacuated.
Two years later, Livingston received the Medal of Honor “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer, Company E, in action against enemy forces,” according to his citation. “Capt. Livingston’s gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.”
Livingston received the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970, presented at the White House by then-President Richard Nixon.
Of the 40 million Americans who have served in the Armed Forces since the Civil War, only 3,519 have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration.
Adding a touch of nostalgia and entertainment to the Eagle celebration this weekend, the organizers have signed up the country’s top Bob Hope impersonator, Bill Johnson.
In a performance reminiscent of the USO shows that boosted troop morale during wartime, Johnson will emcee the event and perform a USO-style dinner show.
“This is one of the only public opportunities to come out and show your support and appreciation for our veterans, our law enforcement, our fire departments and our EMS first responders,” Perez said.
If you go
A free, public event is scheduled for 2-5 p.m., with a ticketed VIP social at 4 p.m. and a ticketed dinner show starting at 6 p.m. Dinner show tickets are $60 per person or $100 per couple.
For more information, visit post127.org.
